Hi, thanks for coming back again, first, a quick review of yesterday , I got a lot wrong but I’m the first to admit it, at least I do have opinions, rightly or wrongly and you guys who know me I will be the first to hold my hand up and say I was wrong, I think everything I said looked to have poor form and wouldn’t win the race ended up winning, Bapak Chinta won the first quite well, Banimpire another I said hadn’t the form to win just getting up at the finish, Fame and Glory my place Lay of the day again fairly sauntering away with the race, Sagramor another where I said I thought other better priced runners had the same chance has him and he shouldn’t be fav, wrong again, and then finally Brown Panther come to my rescue with one of the easiest wins of the week and a nice Exacta too, so all ends well and makes us about level at the meeting so far for the selections.
So on to today lots of runners and tricky races so let’s hope for a winner or two, the draw was a bit inconclusive yesterday with the middle looking good in the first race on the straight track and then high in the next race on the straight track and with more rain overnight and more rain coming down now the going is bordering on soft all round so will be getting pretty testing by the end of the afternoon, also just noticed Paul Hanagan is not riding today so there will be a few jockey changes.
2.05 the Albany stakes, a fillies race and none of them have run on soft going so most definitely a no bet race for me, Highclere purchased large stake in Inetrobil after her debut where she was so impressive but it was a very weak race and most of the runners here would have done the same, Lily’s Angel got beat in the Hilary Needler at Beverley and looks ready for 6f, Teolane has a favourites chance without looking anything outstanding but I have always liked the look of Sweet Chili who has been crying out for today’s trip but like with all the other runners an unknown on the going so a no bet race for me.
2.35 King Edward VII stakes, a fairly weak race on paper for an 86k prize with a lot unproven on the going or just having moderate form, nothing particularly stands out. World Domination doesn’t look good enough and I thought the Cecil “ 2nd string “ Glencadam Gold had a more progressive look, Nathaniel improved 30lbs on the ratings on his last run despite not handling the Chester track, there was no apparent reason for that so I would rather see him confirm that form before backing him, the two with solid form and most likely to produce it again are Genius Beast and Glen’s Diamond, it’s a plus that both wins have come with Ahmed Ajtebi riding him, he has won on the going and his form looks about equal top along with that of Glen’s Diamond from the fairly quiet Richard Fahey stable and that fact just sways me in favour of Genius Beast but it is still a no bet race for me.
3.45 the Coronation stakes another fillies race so a no bet race again, nothing outstanding in the race and a few yet to encounter this soft ground which could hinder or improve, an outsider I like is I love Me, she looks to be suited by softer ground and I thought ran a race full of promise behind Codemaster, there is not much between the Irish Guineas runners Together and Claiomh Solais and if Claiomh continues her rapid improvement I would rather be with her to improve about a length than Together because she is more than three times the price, but a no bet race for me.
4.25 the Wolferton handicap the favourite Green Destiny is much too short at around 2-1 for a race of this calibre with too many unknowns, he may win but not for me at that price, particularly as he is a bit of a thinker and tail swisher so when it comes to a fight in a race like today will he down tools? Spanish Duke runs too many poor races for my liking to win a big race like this, I think that the Haggas second string Shamali ridden by Ryan Moore has an equal chance on form but the going is a concern, he has only run once on ground that is soft and that was on his debut when he ran poorly, but he has won over c/d, I have narrowed the race down to two runners at big odds that definitely have a chance of winning if the favourite isn’t as good as everyone seems to think.
5.00 the Queens vase, a good race for up and coming stayers, not many of them have run over the trip or on the going so a bit of guesswork has to be involved here, Eternal Heart can’t possibly beat stable mate Namibian on these revised terms, Namibian is 16lbs better off for 1.5 lengths, another stable mate Halifax is very interesting solely for the fact that Richard Hughes gets the ride on this hold up performer, Solar Sky from the Sir Henry Cecil yard doesn’t look good enough on what he has done so far, I’ve narrowed this down to just two runners and I think the best Exacta of the meeting and we have already had two correct ones.
5.35 the Buckingham Palace stakes this is more like it loads of runners strong pace, doubts about the draw and going, easy peasy….lol, also be warned that there are a few non-runners but the reserves now get into the race, the going is going to be really testing now so need a strong stayer and a horse that acts on the going, Docothebay is consistent, has c/d form but the going has to be a worry for this Dandy Nichols runner, Kalk Bay doesn’t look to have the form to win this but they could be on a high if there handicap snip running earlier has won, Free for All as obviously been hard to train but could have more to come, the going and the trip have to be worries though, I have narrowed it down to just four runners that I think have a chance but you need to subscribe to my services to find out what they are.
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